Clark cleared to play (updated)

Bruce Boudreau just said captain Chris Clark has been cleared to play. He won’t be in the lineup tonight, but he could be soon.

Yesterday, Clark said he he hoped to be back practicing with contact next week and cleared to play at the end of the month, but obviously something has changed. He hasn’t played since late January because of wrist surgery. (more on him in a bit)

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Also, Boudreau said Brian Pothier is likely to be a healthy scratch, so look for Tom Poti to be in the lineup against the Rangers. As for the decision between either Boyd Gordon or Donald Brashear, Boudreau said both would take warm-up and then he would decide.

Brashear has actaully gone out on the ice now — it is just him, Clark, Pothier and Brent Johnson out there with assistant coach Jay Leach.

UPDATE: Clark said he went to see the doctor yesterday, and what started out as him asking to be allowed to do more in practice ended up with the doc giving him the go-ahead to return to playing.

The Caps captain said all of the skating he has done in the past 2 1/2 months has him in great shape, and he’s probably the healthiest he’s been in the past two seasons.

Clark said there is no more sharp pain in his wrist every time he stickhandles or tries to shoot the puck, but it is still a little stiff and can get sore after practice. He expects that to subside, and said he’d be ready to play Saturday if called upon.